Tractor wheel



o w I Sept 271921. s. DARBY I v TRACTOR WHEEL Filed Fab. 5, 1926 Patented Sept. 2-7, 1927.

UNITED STATES P ATEN OFF 21C E.

scorn: n. "DARBY, or 'MEDFORD, onneon.

Application filed .iiehmmry This invention relates to tractor Wheels and @has for its object .the provision of .a wheel which .may be readily built .at. a low cost a nd will prove efiicient in use. In many localities, the soil is of such quality that when soft it adheres to the tractor wheels as now generally constructed :so that the spaces between the cleats or traction lugs are choked and the wheel rapidly becomes heavy and, through the accumulation of the soil, acquires an enlarged periphery so that it fails to properly engage the soil and increased power is needed to propel the machine. The present invention provides a structure in which the accumulation of the soil between the traction lugs or cleats cannot easily occur and the wheel will be 'always in proper condition to effectually engage the soil. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and will be hereinafter fully set forth, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

'Figure l is a side elevation of a'tractor wheel embodying my improvements, one of the lugs or cleats being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a central transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View of a traction lug or cleat. In carrylng out the present invention,

there is employed a disk 1 which may be of any desired diameter and of such thickness as will be best adapted for the particular machine to which the wheel is to be fitted and the conditions under which that ma-' chine will generally be used. The disk is provided centrally with an opening to receive a hub member 2, which hub member has a boss 3 at one end to fit snugly within the said opening in the disk, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The hub is preferably tapered at one end so as to provide an extended bore to receive the end of the axle to which the wheel is to be fitted, and between its ends or at the base of the boss 3 is an annular flange 4 through which and the disk are inserted securing bolts 5 whereby the hub will be firmly secured to the disk in an obvious manner. At regular intervals around the disk, notches 6 are formed in its peripheral edge, and these notches may be of any preferred configuration, U-sha-ped notches being illustrated but the use of V-shaped notches or rectangular notches being per- 3, 1.1926. Serial m. 55,751.

missible .as may be preferred. Alined radially with each notch 6, an opening 7 is formed through the .disk to receive :a bolt 8 whereby the traction lug or cleat may [be secured in place. Each =lug or cleat comprises a bar 9 which is .T-shaped .in cross section .and :is preferably a-rcuate so :as :to con form to the periphery of the disk and avoid the presence of angularly projecting ends or corners which would impede rather than promote the progress of the machine equipped with the wheel. The length of these bars is considerably greater than the width of the disk 1 and they are attached to the disk at the periphery thereof so as to extend, across the peripheral edge, as shown. On its inner or concave side each lug or cleat is provided centrally with posts or flanges 10 which are adapted to pass at opposite sides of the disk and bear against the faces of the same, a boss or tooth 11 being provided between. the flanges at the bases of the same to engage in the notch 6 and thereby aid in preventing movement of the lug peripherally of the disk. Reinforcing webs 12 are formed integral with the flanges 10 and the bars 9 which constitute the main bodies of the lugs, and the said webs 12 extend from the ends of the flanges to the respective ends of the bars so that a very strong structure is provided.

In assembling the traction lugs or cleats with the disk or body of the wheel, it is necessary merely to slip the lugs in place lugs in place. It will be noted that the lugs project laterally from each side of the disk and are spaced apart so that the spaces be-- tween the successive lugs are entirely open and any soil which ordinarily would tend to collect between the cleats or lugs will be automatically discharged as the wheel revolves. V The cross sectional form of the lugs shown in the accompanying drawing provides a surface which will effectually engage the hard surface of the ground and maintain the desired tractive qualities of the wheel, While at the same time when the ground is soft a more extended bearing engagement between the lugs and the soil will be effected inasmuch as the relatively expanded head of each lug will present a broader surface to the ground and thereby aid in sustaining the weight of the machine or vehicle to which the Wheel is applied. The wheel can be produced very rapidly and easily and, by reason of its obvious simplicity, at a low cost. The construction of the hub effectually reinforces the disk or body of the wheel at its center so that buckling of the wheel under stress is not apt to occur.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A traction lug comprising an arcuate tread member, and posts projecting from the concave face of said member, said member being provided with a boss between the posts. 2. A traction lug including an arcuate tread member T-shaped in cross section, inwardly projecting posts on the concave face of the tread member, a reinforcing web extending between each post and the respective end of the lug, and a boss on each lug between the posts.

3. A traction lug including an arcuate tread member, and an attaching post extending from the concave face of the tread member adjacent the center thereof and disposed obliquely relative to the side edges of the member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

SCOTT R. DARBY. [1,. s] 

